(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 8:52 a.m.
Place: In front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

Opening Statement
- Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
Visit to Japan by Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin

1. Opening Statement

Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

Minister:
It was confirmed that a six-year-old Japanese boy living in Chicago had been infected by Novel Influenza A (H1N1). This boy is currently staying in Chicago with his family and is recovering.

Question:
Has the influenza spread to his family?

Minister:
Since it has been reported only that the six-year-old boy has been infected, the family has not.

Question:
Has this been confirmed?

Minister:
If the influenza spreads to his family, it will be reported.

Question:
Is he a resident or a traveler?

Minister:
He is a resident.

Question:
Does he live in Chicago?

Minister:
Yes.

Question:
Does this make it the first confirmed case of a Japanese national becoming infected?

Minister:
I believe that it is the first case of a Japanese national in the US becoming infected as well as the first case for Japan as a whole.

Question:
What measures is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs going to take?

Minister:
Currently the local authorities are handling this, and since the boy is with his family, we will let the local authorities take care of this and work on gathering as much information as possible.

Question:
How is the boy's condition?

Minister:
I do not know the details.

Question:
Did the Japanese Government conduct the test and make confirmation of the infection?

Minister:
I believe it was the local authorities. The details will be given out by our staff later.

2. Visit to Japan by Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin

Question:
Regarding Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan, the issue of the Northern Territories is gathering much attention in Japan. It seems that a senior government official of the Russian Government made a negative statement saying, "We are not prepared to return the islands. We are not ready." Given this statement, what developments do you expect from this visit?

Minister:
When Prime Minister Putin visits Japan, I believe there will be an exchange of opinions on a wide variety of issues at the Summit Meeting, including bilateral issues, and I believe that naturally the issue of the Northern Territories will come up. As I have been stating from before, Japan's position is that it will aim for the conclusion of a peace treaty by resolving the issue of the attribution of the Four Islands. This has remained unchanged and will not change. I do not know the details of the Russian side's comments or what its true meaning or intent was, but Japan's position remains unchanged.

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